Anyone else doing truck maintenance for hunting season?

Did my oil change. Had to take it to mechanic to do diff/t-case fluids. For the life of me, I could not get the rear diff fill plug to turn. Not stripped and I know I put it on to specs last time. Didn't have time to mess with it, so dropped it off at mechanics with all my fluids and a new fill plug from the dealer. Transmission was done about six months ago. Should be all ready for dirt driving for a couple months, unless I get lucky and tag out early.

 

On my 2012, I had to heat the diff fill plug with a propane torch and then lock some vise grips onto it then tap the vise grips with a hammer to break it free. This was due to the salt and brine they put on the roads here in winter. Obviously had to replace the fill plug. After that, both rear wheel bearings went bad, again due to corrosion. After a $2k repair bill and $1300 for new rotors and pads again, due to corrosion I finally sold the 2012 and bought a 2023 TRD SR5 DC. Probably should have kept the 2012 with 179K miles on it because it still ran great. The E brake was also corroded so bad that it would stick if I used it. Liking the electronic E brake on the 2023.

as far as getting ready, since the truck is new, all I did was order an ARE cap, bought and installed Wet Okole neoprene seat covers so I can wear my wet, muddy waders while driving and just ordered a Taco Tunes aluminum cat shield so some meth head won't steal my catalytic converters while I'm parked in BFE waterfowling or steelhead fishing this winter.

 

I always make sure my maintenance is up to date. Just happened that certain fluids were due this Aug. Must have worked, because I tagged out for archery on opening morning

 

I'm ready to go just had the 07 undercoated this week with NHO, maintenance is up to date, about the only thing is the tires. They'll get me through til next spring but if I get out into a cut corn field that's really muddy ( goose hunting) I might run into some trouble.

 

They can be difficult for sure. It took putting a camping torch to the front diff plug on my wife’s 200-series till it was nice and warm, and using my foot to push on a breaker bar to get it to finally break free. Congrats on your harvest

 

All new ball joints, tie rod ends, timing belt/water pump, steering rack bushings and alignment after all that. Feeling somewhat solid about the rig this year

 

Oem BJs?

 

Sigh.... its a whole story, but the OEM kit I got from the dealership is for a *different* 2002 tundra than my 2002 tundra. So went with Napa premiums (which are somehow $40 more than the OEM kit) when I was down to about 3 hours before my alignment appointment and 18 hours from the start of a week long pheasant/antelope trip.

I know, sketchy. But desperate times....

 

And I should say, the UBJ's are OEM, all the trouble was with the LBJ's

 

All that being said, put 2000 miles on the truck (Montana is a big state, turns out) and the hunting gods provided

 

Wish I would have done my 4wd exercises a few more during the off season. Think I have a bad actuator and another hunting trip in the near future..

 

Not for hunting season per se but I once did a pre-emptive oil change before I went on a 1600 mile ski trip (there and back).